Research Lab Administrator

Purdue University; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Purdue University is seeking a Research Lab Administrator for the Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. The role provides operational, administrative and logistical support, coordinating onboarding for undergraduates, graduates, and postdocs, and supporting partnerships, fundraising, and grant activities.

Working under limited supervision, this on-site position manages events, communications, website and social media, and maintains center records, while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Communications, Business Administration, or related field.
• Two years of experience in administrative coordination, research support, or academic operations.
• In lieu of degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered (e.g., Associate’s + 4 years, or high school diploma + 6 years).
• Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities; effective stakeholder communication.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily center operations, including scheduling, purchasing, reimbursements, and communication via Slack, Outlook, and Google Drive.
• Manage onboarding/offboarding and maintain personnel records for students, postdocs, and center affiliates.
• Assist with donor engagement, grant opportunities, proposal prep, compliance tracking, and budget monitoring.
• Plan and execute events such as workshops, seminars, and guest visits (travel, lodging, itineraries, venues, catering).
• Support campus engagement and recruitment activities for student researchers.
• Manage center social media accounts and center communications, both internal and external.
• Oversee administration for center datasets, including subscriptions and data-access coordination.
• Perform website updates and maintenance.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Multitasking

Stakeholder communication

Event logistics

Digital communication tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Communications, Business Administration, or related field

Job description

Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts is seeking a Research Lab Administrator to provide operational, administrative, and logistical support for the Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) . Working under limited supervision, this professional level role supports daily center operations; coordinates onboarding for undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and postdocs; assists with partnership-building, fundraising initiatives, grant preparation, and post‑award administration; manages events, visitor logistics; and maintains center communications, website, and social media presence.

This is a limited-term duration of 3-years. Continuation will be dependent upon funding.

This position is on-site, working on Purdue’s West Lafayette, IN campus.

Responsibilities Include:

• Coordinate daily center operations, including scheduling, purchasing, reimbursements, and communication through platforms such as Slack, Outlook, and Google Drive.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding processes and maintain timely personnel records for students, postdocs, and center affiliates.
• Assist with building relationships with partners and potential funders, supports donor engagement and grant opportunity identification, and support grant proposal preparation, compliance tracking, and budget monitoring.
• Plan and execute events including workshops, seminars, and guest visits (travel, lodging, itineraries, venues, catering).
• Support engagement activities on Purdue campus and recruitment activities for student research assistants.
• Manage center social media accounts (e.g., on Twitter/X and LinkedIn) and internal/external communication needs and materials.
• Oversee administration for the center’s datasets, including subscriptions, access logistics, and coordination with technical partners.
• Perform website updates and maintenance.

What We're Looking For:

Required:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Communications, Business Administration, or another field related to the center’s work.
• Two years of experience in administrative coordination, research support, or academic operations.
• In lieu of degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered (IE: Associate’s Degree + 4 years of experience, or High School Diploma + 6 years of experience).

Skills Needed:

• Excellent organizational, time management, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and strategically with a wide variety stakeholders
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, technology-centered environment.
• Experience with event logistics and digital communication tools.

What is Helpful:

• Master’s Degree.
• Experience with grants or fundraising efforts.
• Experience planning and managing events and communications.
• Experience with graphic design, website design, and/or maintenance.
• Experience in a university research lab or center environment.
• Experience with software or web development or data science are welcome.

Additional Information:

• For full consideration, candidates should submit a cover letter as well as a resume or CV.
• To learn more about Purdue’s benefits summaryCLICK HERE
• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• Retirement Eligibility: Non-exempt Defined Contribution Plan

Professional 2

Pay Band S065
Job Code #20003177

Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university.